Local employers can be involved by providing tours, job shadows, occupational interviews, mentoring, cooperative work experiences, internships, and youth apprenticeships.

Benefit to Employers

Employers play an active role in shaping the quality of their future workforce when they participate in work-based learning activities. WBL can help business and industry in the following ways:

• Expose young people to unfamiliar careers/businesses/industries;
• Expose young people to the needs and expectations of a business;
• Improve the skill level of workers through their interaction with young people;
• Improve community relations by helping local youth with employment and education;
• Reduce employee training costs and turnover; and
• Improve morale and management skills of adult workers.

Benefit to Learners Work-based learning activities can help young people to:

• Strengthen academic skills;
• Realize the relevance of a rigorous education and understand the need for academic success;
• Gain real workplace experience and an understanding of career and educational options;
• Become motivated to expand their learning through the hands-on approach of applying knowledge and gaining skills; and
• Work with positive adult role models.

Employer’s Guide to Work Based Learning Activities, Minnesota Department of Education, 2010